Pre-School

At Chagford C of E Primary School, we welcome children from the age of 2 to 11 years old. Our pre-school forms a key part of our Foundation Stage Unit, organised to provide a seamless environment for children from 2 to 5 years old, right through to the end of their first year of primary school.

Our approach recognises the very best practice in Early Years education, ensuring a safe, happy and secure environment for children to develop and grow. Our curriculum is planned completely through play. Children move through the Foundation Stage at their own pace with Reception children getting support, if needed, at an earlier level and pre-school age children progressing through to later stages if they are ready. Continuity and progression are ensured.

We work within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. You can read more about the framework approach here.

Our Foundation Stage Unit is led by Ms Jasmine Pollard, Class Teacher, and is fully supported by our wonderful team of Foundation Stage Practitioners. All our practitioners are highly qualified and experienced and will support and work with your child throughout the whole period of time in the Foundation Stage. Children move freely between what is traditionally known as the ‘preschool’ and ‘reception’ spaces. We find that all of our children transition smoothly and successfully from our nursery to Reception, confident and secure in familiar surroundings.

We offer a range of sessions to suit you and your child. Our regular Foundation Stage sessions run from 8.50am – 12pm or 8.50am – 1pm (staying until the end of lunch) in the mornings, and 1pm-3.30pm or 12.00pm-3.30pm (if coming early for lunch) in the afternoons or 8:50am – 3.30pm, five days a week. Children attending a session between 12pm and 1pm can choose to bring a packed lunch, or have one of our delicious school meals, freshly cooked on site by our Catering Manager, Marie (£2.30 per meal).

Funding - All children are entitled to 15 hours a week of free, funded education from the start of the term following their 3rd birthday. Some 2 year olds will also be able to claim funded sessions, depending on eligibility. Please take a look at our 'Quick Links' for further information and guidance on how to check.

Eligible families should now automatically receive a ‘Golden Ticket’ offer of funding directly from the Early Years team. The Golden Ticket is a voucher that entitles you to make a claim for the funded sessions through the school. If you receive a Golden Ticket please bring it to school to discuss your options. If you think you might be eligible and have not received a Golden Ticket it is always worth verifying your eligibility directly. For more information about the Golden Ticket please follow the link to find out more.

For further information, please visit the Early Years Funding webpage - Funded childcare for 2-year-olds - Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)

If you want give notice or reduce hours you must give us four weeks' notice. Your funding will remain with us and you will not be able to be funded with a new provider until after the notice period.

The 2 Year Old Funding and Early Years Entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds, is funded by Devon County Council. We can, of course, offer additional chargeable sessions for you above your funded hours, including all day sessions. For children in the term after their 3rd birthday, this is chargeable at £4.20 per hour over their termly entitlement, and for children over 2 until the term after their 3rd birthday, this is chargeable at £5.10 per hour over their termly entitlement, to reflect the legal requirement to have one adult to every four children in this age group. We do not add any other charges or costs to our fees.

We can accept Childcare Vouchers through your employer’s scheme as payment – please see the Info/ Payments tab for information about the various providers we are registered with.

For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office on 01647 4324121.

QUICK LINKS

EYFS CURRICULUM

PHONICS AND EARLY READING

Our Preschool and Reception Class (2 yrs +)​

Our Preschool and Reception Class (2 yrs +)